With immeasurable sadness we share the news that, after facing many challenging health issues over the past year, Geoffrey passed away peacefully, surrounded by loving family.

Geoff will be deeply missed by Sayre, his wonderful wife of almost 58 years; his children, Andrew, John, Sallie and Adam, ten precious grandchildren; Aidan, Amelia, Jeffrey, Alexandra, Elyssa, Isabelle, Oliver, Aidan, Grayson and Abbott. Son and daughters in laws; Christopher, Julie, Carrie and Mary anne. Lovingly remembered by his sister Christine and sister and brothers-in-laws Sue, Bob, David and Christopher and many nephews and nieces and well as by the Cook's; Ted, Betty, Liz and Charles and their families.

Geoffrey was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England. His love of cricket started early in his days at Worksop College, and continued throughout his life with many later visits to the Oval. His strong work ethic and drive for a career started early with his accounting studies and he obtained his Chartered Accountancy designation in England in 1957.

At that same time he fell in love with Sayre Gilbert, an American girl, when they met as next door neighbours in Doncaster. This relationship prompted a new life in Canada together. Geoff emigrated to Canada in 1958 with Sayre following nine months later. He started his career with Alcan in Montreal and quickly moved to their auditors McDonald Currie & Co. where Geoff was admitted as a partner in 1969. McDonald Currie & Co was renamed Coopers & Lybrand, where Geoff stayed a devoted audit partner for the rest of his career, retiring in 1995.

Geoff moved his family and career to Toronto, settling in the beautiful town of Oakville in 1972. After winning a long battle with cancer with fierce determination in 1978, his passion for sailing was ignited. With equally fierce determination, despite the fact he couldn't swim, he learnt to sail and spent over 40 years enjoying sailing and racing his beloved 'Windsage' with family and friends, first at the Oakville Harbor Yacht Club, and later at the Oakville Yacht Squadron, where he served as Commodore.

The last 15 years of Geoff's life were spent travelling with Sayre between Oakville, Toronto, Calgary, Washington D.C. and England visiting with the ten grandchildren he was so proud of.

A private, loyal and exacting individual, Geoff was always humble. His education, his family and most of all his 'life experiences' molded his strong values and character. All of this resulted in many wonderful qualities: intelligence, determination, respect of others, politeness and honesty – a challenging but true gentleman. He admired people for being themselves, knowing their stuff and straight talking and believed that hard work could get you anywhere.

He was blessed to see his wife Sayre and her 'smile' turn eighty last December surrounded by loved ones and see the first daffodils from his beloved garden this Spring before he died.

The family invites friends to celebrate Geoffrey's life at 10:00am on Friday April 29 ^th at Maple Grove United Church, 346 Maple Grove Drive Oakville Ontario L6J 4V5 and afterwards for lunch at the Mississauga Golf & Country Club, 1725 Mississauga Road Mississauga, Ontario L5H 2K4.

Words cannot express gratitude for the exceptional health care and kindness Geoffrey received. A special thank you to all the caring individuals and dedicated doctors, nurses and volunteers at the OTMH – especially Dr Jan Orfi and the team at the Heart Clinic and Dr Sanjay Pandeya and the team at the Kidney Clinic. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Oakville Hospital Foundation.